Words Alive recently welcomed Oli Loeffler (they/them) as our Development Coordinator.
Oli Loeffler grew up in Southern Orange County where they studied at Irvine Valley Community College before graduating with a bachelor’s of arts in political science from California State Polytechnic University of Pomona in the spring of 2020. They just started their final year of a Master of Arts program in Communication at San Diego State University. When they aren’t working, they love watching any good horror movies, documentaries or docuseries, reading, hiking, or spending time finding new food locations with friends.
Now, a few words from Oli:
What intrigued you about Words Alive?
I think things can seem quite bleak these days, especially if you keep up with the news regularly, but Words Alive really embodies the practice of community taking care of community. In most of my past roles, I’ve started out a step removed from the people directly impacted by the work. But at Words Alive, being supported and led by such dedicated volunteers and community members has been a powerful reminder of why this work matters. It’s rare to find a role that so fully aligns with my passions and connects me to the people we are serving. I’m grateful to have found that at Words Alive.
What are you most excited about in this position?
I’m quite excited to be on the development team for the organization. Whether it’s helping grow our list donors, expanding our impact in the region, or working on our monthly newsletters, I love being a part of every project. It’s just exciting to wake up and know that you’re making a difference just by showing up to work!
What is your relationship with literacy and learning?
I’ve always had a close relationship with literacy and learning. With a mother and father who both received higher education degrees and were avid readers, my brother and I were raised with a sincere passion for learning. That said, I do recognize the privilege that came with having my own personal library and access to educational resources that others didn’t have. That’s one of the major reasons that I’ve loved teaching and coaching Speech and Debate for the last nearly decade of my life. Making the same skills, resources and support that I had available to me accessible to my students is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve been able to do with my life so far.
What are you currently reading?
I’m making my way through Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, but it’s unfortunately been put on the backburner since the fall semester started for my graduate program. However, I can always be found reading some kind of critical philosophy or communication article for school as well!